Sembler In The News
Sembler and Berkley Development Enter Into Strategic Investment Initiative
The Sembler Company and Atlanta-based Berkley Development have entered into a new venture, working together on developing retail projects primarily in the southeastern U.S.
Veteran developer Mike Cohn leads Berkley Development. Cohn has extensive experience managing retail and mixed use development, having co-founded Lennar Commercial and previously served as Executive Vice President at Cousins Properties.DSC_0290-2
Sembler brings more than 50 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry to the venture, with a well-known track record of quality developments throughout the southeast U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The Sembler/Berkley venture will seek out retail deals complementary to Sembler’s primarily grocery-anchored and single tenant built-to-suit strategy.
Sembler CEO Ron Wheeler describes the venture as extending the company’s reach: “This partnership will allow us to work with an exceptional industry professional to better pursue other types of development and redevelopment – small power centers, urban redevelopment projects, even retail elements of primarily residential developments, as possible examples.” Cohn sees the partnership as mutually beneficial, saying, “I am really excited about the possibilities this partnership will bring. I will focus on deal generation, structuring and anchor tenant procurement; and Berkley and Sembler will jointly shepherd opportunities through the development process – with Sembler also applying their construction, property management, shop space leasing, finance and accounting expertise to create best-in-class projects.”
During his career, Cohn has been involved in more than 15 million square feet of commercial development and redevelopment projects valued well in excess of $2B, extending from California to Maine to Florida.
Sembler and Pebb Enterprises Form Partnership on Kroger Deal
The Sembler Company and Boca Raton, FL-based Pebb Enterprises have entered into a single-purpose venture at Westview Plaza in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Westview Plaza is a 48,000 square foot shopping center, shadow-anchored by a Kroger grocery store and includes small shop space. In a deal that closed recently, Sembler brokered a sale of a portion of the center to Kroger; Sembler will take on the leasing and management of the center.
Sembler CEO Ron Wheeler commented on the venture, “Pebb’s portfolio reflects their desire to acquire fiscally robust assets and so we had a lot of confidence that Westview Plaza would be no different. Our long-standing relationship with Kroger helped foster the initial talks among the three parties and that was of value for the deal too. We now hope to add even more value to the center through our leasing and property management efforts.”
